Playboys guitarist Mick Rogers, keyboard player Trevor Griffin and bass player Brian Peacock split with singer Normie Rowe in late October, according to Go-Set’s 25 October issue, page 3.
By mid-November, former Librettos drummer Craig Collinge completed the new group named Procession.
17 December 1967 – Sebastian’s, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set) Debut performance
19-26 December 1967 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
27-31 December 1967 – Sebastian’s, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
1-17 January 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set) Procession were supported by The Trap on 5 January
11 January 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
12 January 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The Valentines (Go-Set) Bon Scott was the lead singer with The Valentines
13 January 1968 – Opus, Ormond Hall, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria with The Groop, Phil Jones & The Unknown Blues, The Party Machine and Issy & Adrienne (Go-Set)
13 January 1968 – Tom Foolery, St John’s Hall, Camberwell, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The Running Jumping Standing Still (Go-Set)
13 January 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The Andy James Asylum (Go-Set)
14 January 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
19 January 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
21 January 1968 – Sebastian’s, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
25 January 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
26 January 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Max Merritt & The Meteors (Go-Set)
26 January 1968 – Sebastian’s, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Christopher Nickelby Action and The Sounds of Silence (Go-Set)
27 January 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
28 January 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
1 February 1968 – Sebastian’s, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
4 February 1968 – 3XY & Outdoor Happening III, Veldrome, Olympic Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Johnny Young & The Word, The Loved Ones, Somebody’s Image, The Masters Apprentices and The Ram Jam Big Band (Go-Set)
5 February 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
8 February 1968 – Sebastian’s, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
9 February 1968 – The Catcher, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The Questions, The Chelsea Set and The Basin St Blues Band (Go-Set)
10 February 1968 – Sebastian’s, Victoria & Albert and Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Larry’s Rebels (Go-Set)
13 February 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
15 February 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Ross De Wylie & The Uptight 5th Hour and The Sounds of Silence (Go-Set)
17 February 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Jeff St John & The Yama (Go-Set)
17 February 1968 – Piccadilly, Ringwood Town Hall, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Nature’s Own and The Running Jumping Standing Still (Go-Set)
18 February 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
23 February 1968 – 54321, St Mary’s Hall, Dandenong, Victoria, Australia with Jeff St John & The Yama and Chocolate (Go-Set)
24 February 1968 – Masonic Hall, St George’s Road Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
25 February 1968 – Opus, Ormond Hall, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The Vibrants and Larry’s Rebels (Go-Set)
1 March 1968 – Swing into Action, Lyndale Hall, Dandenong, Victoria, Australia with The Sounds of Silence and The Vibrants (Go-Set)
2 March 1968 – Opus, Ormond Hall, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Lynne Randell, Somebody’s Image and The Young Once (Go-Set)
3 March 1968 – Sebastian’s, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
8 March 1968 – Sebastian’s, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
9 March 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Young Once and Gingerbreadmen (Go-Set)
9 March 1968 – Piccadilly, Ringwood Town Hall, Victoria, Australia with Dave McCallum Power Set, Carmel Chayne and Skippy La Roche (Go-Set)
10 March 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
13 March 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
14 March 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
15 March 1968 – Catcher, Melbourne, Victoria Australia with Jeff St John & Yama and The Chelsea Set (Go-Set)
16 March 1968 – Penny Lane, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The Outlaws, Carmel Chayne and Tony Barber (Go-Set)
17 March 1968 – Opus, Ormond Hall, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Max Merritt & The Meteors and The Groove (Go-Set)
20 March 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
21 March 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
22 March 1968 – Catcher, Melbourne, Victoria Australia with The Chelsea Set (Go-Set)
23 March 1968 – Albury, Melbourne, Victoria (Go-Set)
27 March 1968 – Sebastian’s, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
28 March 1968 – The Catcher Ball, Catcher, Melbourne, Victoria Australia with The Chelsea Set (Go-Set)
29 March 1968 – Catcher, Melbourne, Victoria Australia with The Wild Cherries and The Chelsea Set (Go-Set)
30 March 1968 – Shepperton Youth Centre, Shepperton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
3 April 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
4 April 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
6 April 1968 – Stonehenge, Beaumaris Civic Centre, Beaumaris, Victoria, Australia with The Valentines, The Rondells and April Byron (Go-Set)
6 April 1968 – Catcher, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The Wild Cherries, The National Breakouts, Compulsion and The Chelsea Set (Go-Set)
7 April 1968 – Opus Central, St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The James Taylor Move and The Wild Cherries (Go-Set)
8 April 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
10 April 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
13 April 1968 – Opus Central, St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The Masters Apprentices, Compulsion and The Revolution (Go-Set)
13 April 1968 – Swinger, Coburg City Hall, Coburg, Victoria, Melbourne with The Bobby James Syndicate, April Byron Sensation, Gentle People (Go-Set)
14 April 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
19 April 1968 – Catcher, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Dream and Ross D Wylie & The Uptight 5th Hour (Go-Set)
27 April 1968 – Opus Central, St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The Mixtures, The Perfection and The Wild Cherries (Go-Set)
27 April 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The System and Larry’s Rebels (Go-Set)
28 April 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set) Says last performance before Australia-wide tour
3 May 1968 – 54321 Club, St Mary’s Dandenong, Victoria, Australia with The Andy James Asylum (Go-Set)
4 May 1968 – Sandringham Memorial Hall, Sandingham, Victoria, Australia with The Henry Brothers, Janice Smuggett & The Pennsylvania Fly Bight and The Push (Go-Set)
12 May 1968 – Festival Hall, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The Wild Cherries, The Masters Apprentices, Dream, Somebody’s Image, The Vibrants, Larry’s Rebels, The Mixtures and many others (Go-Set)
14 May 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and The Floor Show (Go-Set)
15 May 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
21 May 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
24 May 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The La-De-Das (Go-Set)
24 May 1968 – Sebastian’s, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with La-De-Das (Go-Set)
25 May 1968 – Keepout, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with others (Go-Set)
25 May 1968 – Penny Lane, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Dave McCallum Set and Henry Bros (Go-Set)
26 May 1968 – Opus Central, St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The Ram Jam Big Band and The Compulsion (Go-Set)
28 May 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with others (Go-Set)
30 May 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
2 June 1968 – Opus Central, St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Larry Rebels, The City Stompers and Grantley Dee (Go-Set)
5 June 1968 – Sebastian’s, Victoria & Albert and Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Levi Smith’s Clefs (Go-Set)
5 June 1968 – Sebastian’s, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Levi Smith’s Clefs (Go-Set)
12 June 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set)
14 June 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Iguana and Bazaar (Go-Set)
15 June 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The David Bentley Trio (Go-Set)
15 June 1968 – Opus East, Camberwell Junction, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with Robbie Snowden, Ross De Wylie & The Upright 5th Hour and The Rondells (Go-Set)
16 June 1968 – Sebastian’s, Victoria & Albert and Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The Ram Jam Big Band (Go-Set)
18 June 1968 – Thumpin’ Tum, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The Floor Show and The Joke Man (Go-Set)
18 June 1968 – Royal Ballroom, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia with The Twilights, The Party Machine and The Virgil Brothers (Go-Set)
19 June 1968 – Berties, Victoria & Albert, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Go-Set) Final performance in Australia before leaving for the UK
During July, the band headed to the UK
There is a photo of the band (and short story) in the Wakefield Express and its 14 September 1968 issue on page 22 (see below)
The Birmingham Evening Mail ran a spread (plus pic) on the recently arrived band in its 18 September 1968 issue on page 2 under the title ‘No place in the world like Brum’, which contains an interview with local lad Trevor Griffin.
There is a great Procession article in Bracknell News, 19/9/68, page 2 (see below)
The Widnes Weekly News ran a short caption on the band plus a rare photo of the band in its 20 September 2020 issue on page 22
12 November 1968 – Kirkcaldy Ice Rink, Kirkcaldy, Scotland with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and The Herd (Dundee Evening Telegraph)
13 November 1968 – Market Hall, Carlisle, Cumbria, England with The Herd, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, Love Affair and Susan Richards (Fabulous 208) Cumberland News has The Emeralds instead of Richards and also Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich
15 November 1968 – Dundee Ice Rink, Dundee, Scotland with The Herd, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, Love Affair and Susan Richards (Fabulous 208)
15 November 1968 – Falkirk Town Hall, Falkirk, Scotland with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, The Haze and Brian Marshall Foundation (Fabulous 208/Grangemouth Advertiser)
22 November 1968 – Regal Ballroom, Bonnyrigg, Scotland with The Puppets and Spiders Web (South Midlothian Advertiser)
15 January 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England with Yes (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live)
6 February 1969 – Red Lion Hotel Blues Club, Leytonstone, Essex, England (Melody Maker)
8 February 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England with Spice (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live)
22 February 1969 – Royal Links Pavilion Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk, England with Kiss (Eastern Evening News)
During mid-March, Craig Collinge left to join Manfred Mann and Mike Hugg in Emanon, which became Manfred Mann Chapter 3. Chris Hunt joined on drums from Pendulum.
22 March 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England with Spice (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live)
26 March 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England with The Rainbows (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live)
Ross Wilson (ex-Party Machine) arrived from Australia and assumed lead vocals.
5 April 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England with The Shoo String Band (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live)
12 April 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England with Octopus (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live)
13 April 1969 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
28 April 1969 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, London, England (Melody Maker)
3 May 1969 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Marmalade (Folkestone & Hythe District Herald)
10 May 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England with Mandrake Paddlesteamer (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live)
17 May 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England with Pegasus (Melody Maker)
24 May 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England with The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)
26 May 1969 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, London, England (Melody Maker)
31 May 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England with The Eyes of Blue (Melody Maker)
7 June 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England with Kippington Lodge (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live)
14 June 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England with Audience (Melody Maker)
16 June 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England with Audience (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live)
21 June 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England with Joint (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live)
27 June 1969 – Blaises, Imperial Hotel, Queen’s Gate, west London, England (gig poster on http://www.donpowellofficial.com/)
28 June 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England with Octopus (Melody Maker)
8 July 1969 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England (Melody Maker)
30 July 1969 – Speakeasy, Margaret Street, central London, England (Melody Maker)
It is unlikely the band played the following British gigs even though they were advertised. They left England on the Greek cruise ship, Aurelia, in early August bound for New York, returning later that month and breaking up.
10 August 1969 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England (Melody Maker) Unlikely they played this
21 August 1969 – Pilgrim Cellar, Haywards Heath, West Sussex with The Double Sounds (Mid Sussex Times) Unlikely they played this
25 August 1969 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London, England (Melody Maker) Unlikely they played this
25 August 1969 – Blaises, Imperial Hotel, Queen’s Gate, Kensington, west London, England (Marylebone Mercury) Unlikely they played this
Procession split up in September 1969, according to Go-Set (see below)
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Processions final performances were in August 1969 when they played on a ship called The Aurelia taking students to New York. The passage took 7 days and the band played every night and stayed over in New York for 1 night. On the return many of the students were in awe of a rock festival they had just attended. WOODSTOCK.
Dug out an email I had from Mark Haesloop, VP & General Counsel at Landmark Daly City, LLC, dating from 26 May 2009 re: the MV Aurelia boat trip to NYC (see Chris Hunt’s email above).
Mark had spoken to one of the guys in the group who was in shipping for many years and he thinks the Aurelia left UK port sometime in late August, about 30 or 31 August, crossing to NYC in eight to nine days.
He adds that they would then have typically unloaded passengers, reprovisioned and refueled, then headed out within a max of 36 hours in port, more likely a 12 hour turnaround.
He thinks the Aurelia would have arrived in NYC about 8 or 9 September and that the ship headed back on 9 September. He thinks that the ship arrived in Le Havre, France on 18 September and there was a big storm on the NYC to France leg.